Maintenance

Aftermarket

Before you can talk about what’s occurring in the truck parts aftermarket, you need to first look at what happened with new truck sales in prior years. For instance, while the number of medium-duty trucks has stayed the same since 1994, the number of Class 8 trucks has nearly doubled in that time.

Sales of diesel particulate filters for commercial trucks and buses in California increased at the end of 2013 and in the first half of 2014 compared to the first half of 2013, according a survey released by the Manufacturers of Emission Controls Association.

Wofford Truck Parts of El Paso, Texas, has joined the Vipar Heavy Duty network of distributors as a stockholder. Founded by its president Paul Wofford in 1985, Wofford Truck Parts specializes in heavy-duty and medium-duty truck parts.

Michelin Americas Truck Tires announced Michelin Truck Care, a national network of mechanical service providers for trucks with dedicated fleet maintenance managers and technicians, along with standardized services that are audited by Michelin.

Inland Truck Parts has reinvested in North Texas with a new, larger Denton facility just up the street from their former location. The new facility at 4321 N. Elm Street is open for truck repairs and service.

Components and parts are lasting longer, which means fleets will be spending less on replacement parts. According to survey results from MacKay & Co. presented at the Heavy Duty Aftermarket Dialogue in Las Vegas, the most significant component longevity gains have been in power transmission.

Meritor has long positioned itself as a provider of information and training, but has gone one step further developing two Nissan high-roof NV3500 trucks that will deliver onsite product and systems education to fleets, warehouse distributors and independent service garages in the United States and Canada.

Daimler Trucks North America is taking steps to meet a goal of "undisputed leadership" in the aftermarket parts and service business, including revamping inventory and parts delivery and using technology to speed diagnosis and repairs.

Companies that remanufacture engines could see their customer base shrinking, according to a Frost & Sullivan analysis, as OE engines improve and interest in hybrids and alternative fuel vehicles increases.

Universal Technical Institute is now offering a Cummins engine program at its Exton campus. To celebrate the new program, UTI-Exton will hold a grand opening on Thursday, April 4 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

HDA Truck Pride is continuing to grow by adding Fleet Friction. Fleet Friction is located in San Diego, Calif. Their management team includes: Owners Mike Buscher and Richard Harrigan and General Manager Craig Dawson.